The Bellaire High School band marched through the school auditorium.
Photo by Daniel Ortiz

The Beth Yeshurun Day School's "A Night Under the Stars" gala was a hot ticket, thanks toJ.J. Watt. The annual event, chaired by Courtney Zubowski Haas and Dr. Eric Haas, along with Amy and Segev Zadok and BYDS development chair Amy Grinstein, sold a record 600 tickets in support of education and the volunteer efforts of the Houston Texans star.

Watt was the recipient of the Robin and Josh Berry Volunteer Award, which holds special meaning for him. It's named for the late parents of Willa, Aaron and Peter Berry, who attend BYDS. Watt has formed a close bond with the children, who were orphaned in 2011 when a head-on collision took the lives of Robin and Josh Berry, and left Aaron and Peter paralyzed from the waist down.

"He has sort of nurtured us in the same way that I've been nurtured before," Peter Berry told the audience as he and his siblings talked about their friendship with Watt. "He was looking to make an impact in our lives — and he succeeded."

“J.J. came to us in the hospital," Aaron Berry said. "He's coming over to our house, and he means it when he comes over. He actually tries to help us. He doesn't just come to look good," Peter Berry added.

Watt also supports after-school sports programs for middle school kids both in Texas and in Wisconsin, his home state, through his Justin J. Watt Foundation.

Watt couldn’t be in attendance, so his parents John and Connie Watt accepted the award on his behalf. “"It's awesome," John Watt said. "I know when J.J. first met them after the accident, he created an instant bond with them. He called us after that first meeting and just said what special kids they were. It's something that just really touched his heart."

Also honored at the gala were Diane and Alan Levin for their commitment to the BYDS mission.

Decorations by Bergner Johnson that included blue twinkling lights from the ceiling of the school auditorium and dimly lit lamps on the tables were elegantly subdued. But the atmosphere was fully charged, thanks to the Bellaire High School marching band, which took a turn around the auditorium playing rousing tunes.

Also amping up the energy were ABC 13 Eyewitness News This Morning anchor Tom Koch, who served as the evening’s emcee, and KHOU 11 News This Morning meteorologist Chita Johnson, who hosted the silent auction and big board.